On Tuesday, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) awarded more than $6 million in grant funding to four recipients through the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program. This program is a partnership between DCEO, the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) and the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and is funded through the Illinois Job Training and Economic Development Program (JTED).
“We’re fighting homelessness in Illinois with compassion, innovation, and ongoing coordination,” said Pritzker. “Thanks to this award, my administration is one step closer to reaching our goal of functional zero homelessness by providing vulnerable residents the resources they need to find financial and housing stability.”
“Too often, systemic inequities compound and force hardworking people into homelessness. Our communities have been asking for ways to uplift and protect each other; the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program is turning words into action,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “By establishing a road to financial stability, we empower everyone to create a safe, dignified life of their own design.”
The stated goal of the 30-month Home Illinois Workforce Pilot is to support individuals experiencing homelessness by improving employment opportunities, helping them establish financial stability and improving their ability to afford permanent housing in their community. The program is part of the JTED Program, which was created to provide workforce training and wrap-around services to bolster equitable workforce recovery for Illinoisans struggling to gain meaningful employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. DCEO and OPEH will seek to identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships between homeless service and workforce systems through these pilot projects, which will be implemented in a variety of urban, suburban and rural settings across Illinois.
“The State of Illinois is committed to providing critical tools and resources to Illinoisans who have historically experienced disinvestment,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Through the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program, DCEO and IDHS are providing grant funding to grantees and partners across the state to increase meaningful career opportunities and services for vulnerable communities and help combat homelessness.”
